Animated display device



Nov. 21, 1950 A. E. RElTZ ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May 18, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Z i? Mi k/ i 4 Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Archie E. Reitz, Los Angelcs, Calif.

Application May 18, 1949, Serial No. 93,907

(Cl. lib-1M) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an animated advertising or display device and more particularly to such a device characterized by a pack of connected sheets or cards which are automatically turned over one by one like the pages of a book. Such cards are adapted to carry information for the observer as well as to initially attract his attention by their intermittent but continuous turning over.

It is an object of the invention to provide both such a pack of cards and a device for the operation thereof. Such a device is exemplified by a mounting support for the pack, having in combination therewith continuously rotating means such as an electric motor and intermediate means between the motor and pack for converting the rotary movement toreciprocal movement of the pack in a highly efficient and simple manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, the novelty consisting in the features of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportions, disposition, and operation thereof, all as more completely outlined herein and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which form part of the pres ent specifications:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my display device;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View therethru;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of the operating portion of my device, showing the pack at one end of its travel; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the pack at the opposite end of its travel.

As illustrated, there is provided a generally rectangular frame or plate spacing element ll) composed of four lengths of moulding 12 con nected together at right angles so as to outline a pair of flat plates I4, !6 secured thereto and having adjacent faces spaced apart to define an inclosure l8. Swingingly attached to the outer face of back plate M at points 20, 22 is a supporting member composed of two rigid, equallength, angularly directed arms 24, 26 which converge to a ring 28 of form-retaining rubber or the like. By this means, the device can be supported along its longer edge as shown in Figure 1, or can be rested along its shorter length by turning up the frame 90, or again, it can be hung from a projection of an upright surface by means of the ring 28.

Located upon the outer face of top plate It, is

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a pack 39 of display cards or leaves 32 bound together along one end by a strip of flexible material 3 such as bookbinders tape, which is attached at its outer end along the exposed upper edge of a reinforcing backing strip 36 and extending thence over the staggered ends of successive cards so as to form a hinge for each card 32 alon the line of contact of the end of the particular card with the one beneath it.

The top card 32a, of the pack has display symhols on its under face only, while the other cards have indicia on both faces, which information it is desired to exhibit in sequence by turning the cards over on their hinges, one after the other, and then leafing back to the beginning of the pack. The operating mechanism within the inclosure i3 is designed to accomplish this, automatically and continuously as activated by an electric motor 38 mounted on the rear face of the back plate it by attachment tabs 39. For this purpose, the pack it! is first attached along the top plate i6 by insertion of a rigid, upstanding hook 48 thru a centered aperture 22 near the edge of the backing strip 36 and tape (it. From the position shown in Figure 3, the pack can be removed from the plate it by sliding it across the plate 180 around the shank of the hook and then inverting it 180 over the curve of the hook. After attaching the pack to the hook, the top card 32a is turned up and secured to the plate It by screws 44, glue, or otherwise.

Within the inclosure i8 is a rotary disk 45 attached to the driving shaft 45 of the motor, the shaft being iournalled in the rear plate I4. The edge of the disk 46 is pivotally secured to one end of a pitman link 59, the other end of which is attached to the base 52 of the hook. The shank 5-4 of the hook extends thru a longitudinal slot 56 in the upper plate it so that rotation of the motor shaft 13 and disk 45 reciprocates the hook 453 in the slot 55 by means of the link 59.

Thus, starting from an initial position shown in Figures 2-3, slow rotation of the motor and disk to draws the link to the left and slides the hook at the length of the slot 56. The hook is accordingly drawing the backing strip 36 and connected cards of the pack 33 in the same direction, except for the cover card 32a which is held by the screws 4 3. This pushing of the lower cards to the left while keeping the top card securely anchored, results in one after another of the cards leafing over by their tape hinges 34 to drop on top of the anchor card 32a. When the link 59 has come to the end of its throw (Figure 4), its movement is reversed and the leaves 32 u are turned back to their starting position one by one.

The speed of the motor 38 is such as to allow an observer to read or examine the printed material or drawings on each card before it turns over, while at the same time the continued slow and silent turning of the leaves or pages without any reason therefor being evident, is sufiicient to cause a pedestrian to stop and examine the display long enough to read its message. Thus the device can be placed in a store window, for example, to attract attention of passers-by after closing hours, or during the day to advertise a particular sale going on inside. Many other uses will of course suggest themselves.

While I have shown and described in some detail a presently preferred embodiment of my animated advertising or display device, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the construction and operation thereof Within the spirit and scope of the subsequently claimed invention which it is my intention to claim broadly within the limitations imposed by the prior art.

I claim:

1. An animated display device of the character described, comprising in combination: a plate spacing element; a pair of generally parallel plates held together by said element with their adjacent faces spaced apart thereby forming a chamber between the plates; a rotary member disposed between said plates; operative means carried by the outside of one of the plates for rotating said member; a link pivotally secured at one end adjacent an edge of said rotary member so as to be reciprocated by continuous rotation of the rotary member; an attachment member secured to the opposite end of said link and projecting thru an elongated slot in one of said plates; and a pack of cards slidingly supported upon the outer face of said last plate, the edges of successive cards being spaced back from the edge of the card below along an approximately transverse center line of said last plate and being in such position held together by a strip of flexible material, the lowermost card of the pack being connected to said attachment member adjacent the hinging points of the cards and the top card of the pack being turned back and anchored to its supporting plate and against lateral movement, whereby continuous movement of the rotary member causes said link and attachment member to reciprocate the pack of cards along said supporting plate so as to successively turn them over one at a time in alternate directions of movement.

2. In combination with an animated display device comprising spaced supporting plates, a booklet of hingedly mounted leaves on the upper side of one of said plates, the hinges of said leaves being adjacent each other in spaced relation connected together and jointly slidable laterally along said plate, the upper leaf having its end anchored to the plate and forming means whereby the leave will be successively turned upon movement laterally of the booklet, of concealed means for reciprocating said booklet on its supporting plate, said last named means comprising a rotatable member within the chamber formed by the spaced plates, means carried by one of the plates for rotating said rotatable member, a pitman link connected to the rotatable member at one of its ends, the other end of said link terminating in a booklet engaging member, said, booklet engaging member extending upwardly through an elongated slot in the booklet supporting plate and anchored to the booklet by attachment to said slidable hinges for movement of the same toward and away from said anchored end of the upper leaf.

ARCHIE E. REITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 759,365 Geyer May 10, 1904 800,701 White Oct. 3, 1905 864,984 McPhee Sept. 3, 1907 1,709,607 Chester Apr. 16, 1929 2,253,858 Lucas Aug. 26, 1941 

